Cool?
This is a thread about retro-bikes in the pre 1997 area. The entire time I was aware of Cannondale until the late 90's when I got out of touch with the scene they were well respected bikes.
I knew a couple of guys with 'dales and they were hard riders who rode kit because it worked.
However, the 'cool' bikes that stick in my mind are Pace's, Bontragers, Merlins and Kleins. These were the kind of bikes that defined their riders and attracted attention from those outside the circle of riding buddies.
Oranges, Konas, Dyna-Techs and the like were and are cool bikes but they never had the superstar factor.
I think Cannondale make an interesting case for a 3 way split, Uncool - Cool - Sub Zero (natch TG).
Dale are not uncool and therefore cool. No-one would be ashamed to be seen on a 3.0series 'dale and I remeber wanting one very badly indeed, but they are not in the Pace / Klien / Serotta / Bonty OR school of cool.